Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40164792›Full record

ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2025

Quality of life, spiritual needs, and well-being of people affected by infertility and its treatment: quantitative results of a mixed-methods study.

Madeleine Bernet, Alexander M Quaas, Michael von Wolff, Alessandro Santi, Isabelle Streuli, Dorothea Wunder, Eva Soom Ammann, Arndt Büssing

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Madeleine BernetDivision of Nursing, Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland. madeleine.bernet@bfh.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7069-1079
Alexander M QuaasShady Grove Fertility, San Diego, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9644-2115
Michael von WolffDivision of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Women'S Hospital, Inselspital, University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4303-2734
Alessandro SantiOspedale Regionale di Locarno, Locarno, Switzerland.
Isabelle StreuliDivision of reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8767-0039
Dorothea WunderHôpital Cantonal Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9429-3649
Eva Soom AmmannDivision of Nursing, Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3646-1450
Arndt BüssingFaculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5025-7950

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeInfertility is a growing global health issue that significantly affects quality of life (QoL). Understanding its impact on QoL is essential for developing effective healthcare interventions. This study explored QoL, well-being, and spiritual needs among individuals affected by infertility, with implications for healthcare provision.

methodsStandardized questionnaire data from an anonymous mixed-methods study that was conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 in Switzerland and addressing QoL (FertiQoL), spiritual needs (SpNQ-20), and psychological well-being (WHO-5) of individuals undergoing fertility treatments.

resultsThe analysis included 326 participants. FertiQoL scores were lowest in the emotional domain (M = 46.35) and highest in the relational domain (M = 68.51), with a mean overall score of 56.69, indicating moderate QoL impacts. Participants without children reported significantly lower FertiQoL and WHO-5 well-being scores than those with children (p < 0.05). The WHO-5 mean score indicated moderate well-being (M = 13.89). SpNQ-20 results showed the highest needs in inner peace (M = 1.82), followed by generativity (M = 1.09) and existential needs (M = 0.86), with religious needs scoring the lowest (M = 0.43). Participants without children had significantly higher spiritual needs (p < 0.05).

conclusionThis study highlights the emotional and spiritual challenges of infertility, revealing differences in experiences between individuals with and without children. It emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health and well-being in infertility care. Further research should focus on the psychological impacts of fertility treatments, including depressive mood states.

Indexed as

InfertilityQuality of LifeSpiritualityAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReproductive Techniques, AssistedSurveys and QuestionnairesSwitzerlandHealthcareInfertilityQuality of careQuality of lifeSpiritual needsWell-being

Identifiers

PMID40164792
PMCPMC12229361

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.